LIVE.LAUGH.LOVE.

You CAN See God

By Joseph J. Mazzella • April 10, 2012

I sat at my desk staring at the letter for a long time. It was written by a friend of mine who was going through some difficult times. It listed problem after problem and seemed full of despair. It ended with these words: "I would like to have faith, but I have always had a problem in believing in what I can’t see. You can’t see God, you know!"

After awhile I still hadn’t thought of how to answer my friend’s letter and help him. Hoping a walk would help, I put a lease on one of my dogs and headed out the back door. The warm, golden sunshine of Spring warmed my face as soon as I stepped off the porch. A fresh breeze carried the scent of a thousand budding trees on it. A butterfly danced above a patch of dandelions floating from flower to flower. Robins were flying back and forth to the Maple tree in my backyard carrying fresh grass and twigs to reline their nests. Across the road my new neighbor’s children were playing in her backyard with a big ball. It was such a delight seeing her toddler chasing after it with such joy.

I felt a nuzzle against my leg and looked down to see my dog cuddling in for a hug. I smiled and scratched his head while the laughter of the children and the sound of crickets in the woods blended together to create a unique and beautiful music. I started to walk back inside and saw my own son grinning at me from the window. Most of the world could only see his mental handicaps, but when I looked at him then his eyes sparkled with a divine light. I waved to him and laughed when his older sister snuck up behind him and wrapped him in a loving hug.

When I got back inside, I knew what to write. I went to my friend’s letter and wrote of everything I had just seen, smelled, heard, and felt in those brief moments outside. Then I finished by writing this: "I think we all can see God! We just need to know where to look!"